Salty foods help hangovers primarily by replenishing electrolytes (like sodium) lost due to alcohol's diuretic effect, which aids in rehydration and restores mineral balance, while also potentially settling the stomach and providing energy. This craving signals your body's need for minerals and fluids, which salty items like broth, salted nuts, or even soy sauce (with salmon) can help provide, counteracting dehydration and supporting recovery.
Yes and no. It's not necessarily the greasy meal that makes you feel better when you're hungover, but rather the salt. Alcohol dehydrates you, so when you eat a meal at a diner at 4 in the morning, what you're really doing is replenishing your electrolytes with all the salt.
Water rich foods:
Skip the salt.
You likely get that hangover headache the day after drinking due to dehydration. Eating high-sodium foods can make the effect even worse, Cording says. “Salty foods can make you more thirsty, causing you to drink more [alcohol]. This can also make you more bloated,” she says.
Treatment
One option is to follow the 20-minute rule—taking a 20-minute break after you've finished one drink before buying or consuming the next one.
“But remember, caffeine is a diuretic, which might push you to the bathroom more and worsen dehydration — a key culprit behind those dreaded hangover symptoms. Sugar in Coke offers a quick energy boost too, which could temporarily alleviate that weak, sluggish feeling.”
Some people who want to reduce but not eliminate alcohol follow what's called the “1-2-3” rule for drinks: No more than one drink per hour. No more than two drinks per occasion. No more than three drinks per day.
' What you are feeling are the effects of dehydration and low blood sugar. To bring your blood sugar back up to normal, you really just need to eat anything with some carbs, but balance it out with protein or healthy fats to prevent further blood sugar drops,” she says.
You're also likely to be dehydrated if you've been drinking, because alcohol is a diuretic and makes you pee a lot. You might crave salty foods which will replenish your body's electrolytes and help your body store lost water.
A popular theory suggests that dehydration is the primary cause of alcohol hangover. ∗ If correct, the consumption of water could alleviate hangover symptoms. This review concludes that hangover and dehydration are two co-occurring but independent consequences of alcohol consumption.
Although it may temporarily make you feel better, the hair of the dog method does not help cure a hangover.
Don't make it worse
Way, way worse. Instead, opt for something like Powerade or Lucozade. These isotonic drinks are designed to replenish sugars and salts quickly, so can work wonders for that hangover.
Prevention
You could also add a rehydration treatment sachet or a pinch of salt and some sugar to water – they replace lost minerals and salt, but plain water or another soft drink will normally do.
Since drinking too much alcohol can lead to dehydration, consider hydrating with water, coconut water, or a sports drink. Some foods can actually make hangover symptoms worse. Avoid greasy, spicy, and sugary foods if you have a hangover.
Other things you do -- or don't do -- when you drink alcohol can affect whether you get a hangover and how bad it is. If you don't eat anything and drink on an empty stomach, for example, you may feel worse because your bloodstream will take in the booze more quickly. Using tobacco can make symptoms worse, too.
Research into hangovers (a worthy task) reveals greasy food cravings are the result of two factors. The first is brain chemistry. Consuming alcohol increases the production of a brain chemical called galanin, and galanin increases our hunger for fats. The second is energy.
How long do hangovers last? In most cases, a hangover will last anywhere from a few hours to about 24 hours after your last drink. However, there are instances where the effects of a hangover can last for longer than this. The duration of a hangover can vary from person to person and depends on a number of factors.
A 2021 review of research notes that several studies determined that two to four weeks of abstinence from alcohol by heavy-alcohol users helped reduce inflammation and bring down elevated serum levels in the liver. In short: A few weeks off will help. But the longer you can abstain from alcohol, the better.
Two fingers means a single pour. Three fingers means a double pour. Served neat in a rocks glass. It's old school.
For men of average size and weight, consuming 4 to 5 standard drinks over two hours can result in a 0.08 limit. For women of average size and weight, consuming 3 to 4 standard drinks over two hours can also result in a 0.08 limit.
How to Cure a Hangover Fast
While light, low-intensity activities like walking may be acceptable for some, it's crucial to prioritize rest, hydration, and recovery when hungover. Pushing yourself too hard in this state could end up making your hangover worse and increase the risk of injuries.
A study carried out in China investigating 57 different drinks found that Sprite was surprisingly good at ridding the body of acetaldehyde, the main chemical by-product of the breakdown of alcohol, which is thought to be the main reason you get a hangover.